Foldable display case



Nov. 19, 1957 H. P. POST FOLDABLE DISPLAY CASE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 7, 1955 INVEN'I'OR HAROLD P. POST A'T'TORN Y Nov. 19, 1957 H; P. POST FOLDABLE DISPLAY CASE INVENTOR HAQOLD P. POST ATTORN Y United States Patent FOLDABLE DISPLAY CASE Harold P. Post, Hartford, Conn.

Application September 7, 1955, Serial No. 532,847

Claims. (Cl. 312--2'57) This invention relates to foldable cabinets for the display of merchandise samples, etc., and more particularly to a portable, self-contained display case or cabinet wherein shelves, display panels, and suitable supports therefor are provided within a relatively small, compact unit which may be easily transported, or stored, in folded condition, and which when set up for use provides a relatively large total area for merchandise display purposes.

One feature of importance of the present invention is the provision of a self-contained display case having a base structure which can be swung downwardly and rearwardly to support the case, and a display panel structure which can be swung upwardly and extended outwardly of the case to add to the area for displaying merchandise.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of a self-contained display case having structures which can be swung outwardly of the case and laterally extended for use to support the case and to display additional merchandise, novel means being employed to maintain the assembly in its operative position.

And a third feature is that illuminating means in the form of fluorescent tubes are provided in positions to illuminate the displayed goods.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a self-contained display case according to the present invention, showing the case in its closed or folded position ready for transportation or storage;

Fig. 2 is an elevation in cross-section and on an enlarged scale of the case shown in Fig. 1 taken along the plane of line 22 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view similar to that of Fig. 1 but partially unfolded with the doors opened to show other elements folded in nested position within the case;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view similar to Figs. 1 and 3, but wherein the base structure has been opened outwardly into its supporting position;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the display case fully opened for use in displaying merchandise;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view in perspective of the cabinet shown in Figs. 1 to 5 showing a detachable lower front panel that may be added if desired and also showing the location of appropriate illuminating elements; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective sectional view of the cabinet shown in Fig. 6 in folded condition for storage and moving.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the embodiment of the invention illustrated includes a rectangular box, generally indicated by the numeral 10, having an open front provided with a pair of outwardly opening flush doors 11 suspended to swing about vertical axes on hinge means 12 positioned exteriorly of the doors at opposite sides 13 of the box 10.

The base structure as shown in Fig. 4 in its outwardly 2,813,769 Patented Nov. 19, 1957 unfolded position to support the box 10 comprises a flat front member 14 having a rearwardly extending marginal strip or section 15 at the top to provide a horizontally offset axis for hinge means 16 by which section 14 is attached along the front edge of the bottom 17 of box 10 so as to be swung upwardly from its open position in alignment with doors 11 into its nested position at the front of box 10 as shown in Fig. 2. Front member 14 is also provided with a ,pair of supporting members 18 which may be rearwardly unfolded about a vertical axis beneath the exterior of the box 10 to provide support therefor when in use and may 'be folded flat against the member 14 for nesting within the box when not in use.

The upper display structure as shown in its openor operative position in Fig. 5 comprises a center panel member 19 having a rearwardly extending marginal section 20 at the bottom (see Fig. 2) to provide a horizontally offset axis for hinge means 21 by which section 20 is attached to member 22 which provides an extension of the marginal section 20 at the top 23 of box 10.

It should be noted at this point that member 14 is horizontally offset from its hinged connection 16 only to the extent required to accommodate the member 18 behind the doors 11 when not in use yet which will permit the member 14 to be positioned in vertical alignment with doors 11 when in open or operative position, whereas member 19 must be horizontally offset from its hinged connection 21 to a greater extent in order that it may not only be positioned behind member 14 in the interior of box 10 but also be disposed in alignment with doors 11 when in its operative position.

Center panel member 19 may also be provided with wing panels 24 connected thereto by hinge means 25 so that the wing panels may be swung outwardly about a vertical axis for alignment with doors 11 whereby the upper display structure will be supported in position as shown in Fig. 5 by virtue of the edgewise abutting engagement between wing panels 24 and the correspondingly aligned door 11. The assembly is completed by the provision of a counter, or shelf 26 hinged at 27 to the back 28 of box 10, and which may be swung downwardly to project forwardly of the member 14 when in use.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the elements 14, 19 and 26 extend across the entire width of the interior of box 10 between the side walls 13. It will therefore be apparent that when the display case is to be set up for use the doors 11 must be opened to their full extent as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, otherwise if the doors were in a partially opened position their inside vertical edges 29 would project inwardly in front of the opening defined by side walls 13 to prevent outward movement of an element extending across the full width thereof.

However, with the doors fully opened there will be sufficient clearance for all of the elements contained within the box 16) to be unfolded from the interior in order to set the apparatus up for display. To do so, the base structure will first be set up by swinging the front panel 14 outwardly and downwardly in front of the box 10 and rearwardly unfolding the support members 18 to position them below the box 10 as shown in Fig. 4. Next, the upper display panel will be swung upwardly above the front of the box 10 and the wings 24 will be unfolded so that they will rest in edgewise abutting relationship on top of the doors 11, as shown in Fig. 5. In this position the upper display structure will remain securely in place. Lastly, the counter 26 may be swung downwardly to rest on the bottom 17 of box 10.

In the position shown in Fig. 5 it will be seen that, inasmuch as the doors 11, upper display panel 19 and wings 24 are all disposed in substantially the same vertical plane as the front section 14 of the base structure,

adapt it to the surroundings in which it is to be used.

In this case it may be desired to position one or both of the doors 11 and/ or wings 24 so as to project directly forwardly of the box 10 or in some intermediate oblique position. This necessarily would shift a certain amount of the weight of the assembly forward of the base structure so that, in the absence of some means to lock the assembly together as a unit whereby the weight of the support elements 18 would counterbalance this effect, there would be a tendency for the portion of the apparatus above the base to fall forwardly about the horizontal axis of hinge means 16.

' While the height of the doors 11 is a matter of convenience and appearance in the provision of a self-contained unit for the storage and transportation of the elements to be assembled, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated the height of the doors 11 is coextensive with the exterior height of box 10. Therefore, it will be apparent that, in the absence of some special provision it would not be possible for the doors to be swung inwardly from the position shown in Fig. because their inner edges 29 would normally abut against the side edges of the various elements 14, 19 and 26. However, in the present form of the apparatus the upper corners 39 of member 14, the lower corners 31 of member 19, and the forward side margins 34 of member 26 have been cut away so that when the doors are swung into forwardly projecting positions the lower and upper corners 32 and 33 of the doors will respectively be received in the cut out recesses formed at 30 and 31. In this position the corners 32 of the doors will be in vertical abutting engagement with the recesses 30 of member 14 so as to elfectively prevent any forward tilting of the box with respect to the base structure upon which it rests. Similarly, the upper corners 33 of doors 11 will be in vertical abutting engagement with recesses 31 of member 19 so that the upper display structure will thus be supported regardless of the positions of wings 24.

When it is desired to pack the apparatus for traveling or for storage it is necessary only to reverse the previously described process for setting it up. With the doors 11 in outwardly extending position the counter 26 is folded up against the back 28, so that when the wing panels 24 have been folded against the front of panel member 19 the upper display structure may be folded downwardly into the box in front of counter 26. The supporting members 18 may then be folded against the back of member 14 to permit the base structure to be swung upwardly and into the box 10 in front of the upper display structure. Thereafter the doors 11 may be closed to form a compact box or crate.

In Fig. 6 the display cabinet is shown in transverse half section and has an added panel 36 hinged at its upper edge to panel 14 preferably by suitable hinges 38 that may be readily separated by removal of their pins. A strut or other support of any type not shown may be employed to retain the panel 36 in oblique or opened po- 1 sition as shown in Fig. 6. For packing, the panel 36 is detached from the foldable panel 14 and may be positioned as shown in Fig. 7 for storage and moving.

To satisfactorily illuminate the displays on the various panels of the cabinet, a fluorescent tube may be mounted as shown at 42 on a small adjustable bracket member 44. By the form of this member 44 the tube 42 is concealed and serves to illuminate some of the upper display panels. The bracket member 44 is fastened adjustably as shown at 46 to the top member 23 so that when removed and packed the bracket member 44 may be positioned as shown in Fig. 7 against panel 36. To

'- illuminate the lower displays a fluorescent tube 48 is attached to panel 26 as shown. The member 50 for mounting this tube 48 may be formed as a part of the panel 26 and folded into packing position with the panel 26 as shown in Fig. 7. The remaining panels and members of the cabinet shown in Figs. 6 and 7 are or may be similar to those shown in Figs. 1 to 5.

In the drawings but one complete embodiment of the invention has been shown. It will be understood, however, that modifications other than those shown in Figs. 6 and 7 may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a foldable display case, the combination including a rectangular box having an open front, an upper display structure having a lower marginal portion extending the width of the interior of the box, said display structure being hingedly attached at the upper interior of the box to be swingable about a rearwardly otfset horizontal axis whereby said lower marginal portion may be positioned forwardly of said opening in the box when in use, and a pair of doors hingedly attached at the sides of said opening on a horizontally offset vertical axis whereby the inner edges of said doors will be disposed outside of the inner confines of the sides of the box when fully opened but when swung inwardly will be disposed within said confines, the top of said doors being disposed in alignment with the lower corners of said lower marginal portion of the display structure when forwardly positioned so that said doors may be swung inwardly for engagement between the upper corners of the doors and said lower corners of the marginal portion to support said display structure.

2. In a foldable display case, the combination including a rectangular box having an open front, upper dis play structure having a lower marginal portion extending the width of the interior of the box, said display structure being hingedly attached at the upper interior of the box to be swingable about a rearwardly offset horizontal axis whereby said lower marginal portion may be positioned forwardly of said opening in the box when in use, base structure having an upper marginal portion extending the full width of the interior of the box, said base structure being hingedly attached at the lower interior of the box to be swingable about a rearwardly offset horizontal axis whereby said upper marginal portion may be positioned forwardly of said opening in the box when in use, and a pair of doors hingedly attached at the sides of said opening on a horizontally offset vertical axis whereby the inner edges of said doors will be disposed outside of the inner confines of the sides of the box when fully opened but when swung inwardly will be disposed within said confines, said lower and upper marginal portions being recessed to receive the upper and lower corners respectively of said doors in vertically abutting engagement when said doors are inwardly positioned to lock said display structure and base structure in operative positions.

3. In a foldable display case, the combination including a rectangular box having an open front, a pair of doors hingedly attached on vertical axes at the sides of said opening to open outwardly into a common vertical plane, and an upper display panel provided with foldably connected wing panels to be unfolded outwardly of the sides of the box when in use to be supported on said doors in edgewise vertically abutting engagement, said upper display panel being hingedly attached on a rearwardly offset horizontal axis at the upper interior of the box, whereby said display panel and said wing panels may be outwardly swingable into said common vertical plane of the doors and inwardly swingable for nesting within said box.

4. In a foldable display case, the combination including a rectangular box having an open front, a pair of doors hingedly attached on vertical axes at the sides of said opening to open outwardly into a common vertical plane, base structure including a flat front element and foldably connected fiat support members to be unfolded rearwardly under the box when in use, said base structure being hingedly attached on a horizontal axis at the lower front of the interior of the box to be swingable outwardly into operative position exteriorly of said box and inwardly swingable for nesting within the box, and an upper display panel provided with foldably connected wing panels to be unfolded outwardly of the sides of the box when in use to be supported on said doors in edgewise vertically abutting engagement, said upper display panel being hingedly attached on a rearwardly offset horizontal axis at the upper interior of the box, whereby said display panel and said wing panels may be outwardly swingable into said common vertical plane of the doors and inwardly swingable for nesting within the box behind said nested base structure.

5. In a foldable display case, the combination including a rectangular box having an open front, a pair of doors hingedly attached on vertical axes at the sides of said opening to open outwardly into a common vertical plane, base structure including a flat front element and foldably connected flat support members to be unfolded rearwardly under the box when in use, said base structure being hingedly attached on a horizontal axis at the lower front of the interior of the box to be swingable outwardly into operative position exteriorly of said box and inwardly swingable for nesting within the box, a flat counter element hingedly attached on a horizontal axis at the lower rear of the interior of the box to be downwardly swingable into horizontal position above the base structure when in use and swingable upwardly against the back of the box for nesting, and an upper display panel provided with foldably connected wing panels to be unfolded outwardly of the sides of the box when in use to be supported on said doors in edgewise vertically abutting engagement, said upper display panel being hingedly attached on a rearwardly olfset horizontal axis at the upper interior of the box, whereby said display panel and said wing panels may be outwardly swingable into said common plane of the doors and inwardly swingable for nesting within the box in front of said counter element and behind said nested base structure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,783,712 Hernandez Dec. 2, 1930 1,927,837 Kingdon Sept. 26, 1933 2,566,256 Snyder Aug. 28, 1951 2,627,854 Sava Feb. 10, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 12,614 Australia Feb. 1, 1929 

